Hydrocarbon-lamp.



N0. 763,22. Patented June 24, I902.

J. G. BRANCH.

HYDROCARBON LAMP.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

we Nonms PETERS cc. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, u. c.

No. 703,231. Patented June 24, I902.

u. G. BRANGH.

HYDROCARBON LAMP.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheeis$haet 2.

27ers)! 2" THE NORRIS P:1ERs co. mommuo. WASHINGTON, u. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

JOSEPH G. BRANCH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HYDROCARBON-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 703,231, dated June24;, 1902.

Application filed January 9, 1901. Serial No. 42,691. (No model.

To (LZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. BRANCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Hydrocarbon-Lamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to hydrocarbon-lamps, the object of the same beingto provide novel means whereby coal-oil, gasolene, or other liquidhydrocarbons may be vaporized fed toavapor-jet, supplied with therequisite air, and burned, the combustion thereof being utilized forheating an incandescent mantle.

. A further object of the invention is to provide in a lamp of this kinda generator which is located to the greatest possible extent within theheat zone of the burner and which may be readily disconnected andremoved for the purpose of cleaning or renewing.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby thelamp may supply its own initial heat for raising the hydrocarbon liquidto the vaporizing-point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofvaporizer and means for cleaning the same.

. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is asectional elevation of a hydrocarbon-lamp constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View, on an enlarged scale,of the vaporizer. Fig. 3 is a sectional View illustrative of a modifiedform of vapor-jet. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the upper partof the lamp, showing a modified construction of generator. Fig. 5 is adetail sectional view through a portion of the pipe or tube constitutingthe generator, showing the filling therein. Fig. 6 is a; sectionalelevation of a modified form of lamp, and Fig. 7 is a detail plan viewof the upper end of the generator.

Like reference-numerals indicatelike parts in the difierent views.

My improved lamp comprises a cylinder 1 constituting the main support,the generators 2, secured thereto, the vapor-jets 3, connected with thelower ends of the generators 2, the

Vaporizers 4, and incandescent mantles 5, the

. moving the same.

per end by a ring 9, secured to the hood 6, and;

said lamp is supplied with a globe 10, mounted upon a support1l,adjustable on the-cylindrical support 1. Each of the generators 2consists of a vertical pipe 12,secured to the support 1 near its lowerend and to a stationary block 13 at its upper end, and of a horizontalpipe 14, removably secured to the upper end of the pipe 12 and filledwith steel or mineral wool 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. The means of connection between the pipes 12 and 14 consists Iof an internally-screwthreaded enlargement 16 on the end of the pipe 12,which receives the internal screwthreads on the inner end of the pipe14. The outer end of the pipe 14 is provided with a removable cap 17,having a polygonal extension thereon, by means of which a wrench or keymay be applied for the purpose of re- The supply-pipe 8 communicateswith the pipe 14, a filter 18, filled with any fibrous material, beinginterposed between the pipes 8 and 14. At the point of juncture of thepipe 8 with the filter 18 is a cut-cit valve 19, and in the hood 6,directly opposite the end of the pipe 14, is an opening 20, by means ofwhich access may be had to said pipe for the purpose of removing andcleaning the same. 1

The lower end-0f each of the pipes 12 of the generators 2 has connectedwith it thevapor; jet 3, the same-extending outwardly there from andprovided with an annularcup 21, surrounding the discharge -orificethereof. Said vapor-jet is also provided on its under side with aremovable cup 22, by means of which said vapor-jet may be cleaned. Avalve 23 controls the flow of hydrocarbon from the pipe 12 to thevapor-jet 3. The vaporizer 4 is also secured to the pipe 12; but,

as shown, the same is located abovethe Va mixture of air with thevaporized hydrocar por-jet 3, with the lower end thereof separatedslightly from said vapor-jet, so as to permit the bon prior to theignitionof the same adjacent to the mantle 5. The said vaporizerconsists of an inner imperforate tube 24, forming a mixing-chamber, andan outer tube 25, surrounding the same and formed with inwardlyextendingflanges 26 at its upper and lower ends, which flanges are of the sameinternal diameter as the external diameter of the inner tube 24 andserve to hold the tubes 24 and 25 properly spaced apart. They also serveto close the upper and lower ends of the annular chamber 27 between thetubes 24 and 25. The outer tube 25 is formed with perforations 28 and 29in the sides thereof, which register with corresponding perforations 3031 in the pipe 12. Between the perforations 30 and 31 the pipe 12 isprovided with a diaphragm or plug 32, and directly opposite saiddiaphragm, in the annular chamber 27, is a plate or partition 33, whichhas an opening 34 therein on the side of the chamber 27 opposite thepipe 12. By this construction it will be observed that the hydrocarbonsupplied by the pipe 12 is forcedinto "and completely around the annularchamber 27 in the vaporizer 4 before it can reach the vapor-jet 3. Theinner tube 24 is thinner than the outer tube 25 for the obvious purposeof enabling the heat from the burning hydrocarbon to be'the betterconducted to the hydrocarbon in the annularchamber'27.

To provide for cleaning the vaporizer 4, or rather the annular chamber27 in said vaporizer, I provide openings in the flanges 26,.

which are normally closed by the screws 35 36. Fourof these openings arepreferably employed, two in the upper flange 26 and two in the lowerflange. This number may, however, be increased or decreased withoutdeparting from the invention. sired to clean the chamber 27, one or moreof the screws 35 36 are removed and a needle or other pointed instrumentintroduced through the openings and the hydrocarbon therein permitted toflow out.

It is of course essential that ready access be had to the stems of thevalves 23 and-to the cups 22. To provide for this, the globesupport 11is made in the form of aspider, or is provided with openings throughwhich the hand may be readily passed.

The mantles 5 are supported in any suitable manner above the vaporizers4. Secured to the upper end of each vaporizer, however, below the mantle5 thereon, is a disk 37, of wire-gauze,'the same constituting a burnerand being retainedin place by means of a ring or collar 38.

WVhen it is desired to renew the mantles 5,

. access may be had thereto by simply lowerbraces the cylindricalsupport 1, with a setby prevented.

When it is de-- ,screw 39. The upper end of the globe when the parts ofthe lamp are in place fits within.

an annular flange 40 on the lower end of a ring or bracket 41, securedto the hood 6, lat- I eral displacement of the globe 10 being thereasabearingor supportfor the pipe 14 of each of the generators 2. Said pipepasses loosely through a boss 42 on said bracket and is capable ofwithdrawal through said boss.

From the'foregoing description it'will be observed that each of thegenerators 2 comprises a vertical member located between the Thisbracket 41 also servesburners and a horizontal member located above thesame.

In this way the generators are disposed to the greatest possible extentwithin the heat zone of the lamp. The horizontal member 14 of each ofthegenerators is the one which receives the more direct rays 01: heat fromthe lamp, and consequently it is the one in which the paraflin and otherimpurities in the'hydrocarbon liquid will condense. This condensationand accumulation of paraffinin the generator of the hydrocar-' to thoseforms of hydrocarbon-lamps which have preceded mine, as it results inthe clogging up of the passage to the burners, and

thereby renders the lamps eitherentirely useless or very inefficient.Bymaking this portion of my generatorremovable I am ene abled todisconnect the same at any time for the purposeof cleaning it or for thepurpose ofintroducingan entirelynewpipe in itsplace. This is animportant feature of myinvention.

The filters 18 maybe dispensed with,ifdesired as the steel, wool,orfiber 15 in the pipes 14 l I serves as a strainer for thehydrocarbonliquid However, the filters passing therethrough. 18 aredesirable in that they produce a more even and steady flow of the liquidhydrocarbon, and consequently a steadier light at the point of ignitionof the hydrocarbon.

The operation of my deviceis-as follows: The valves 19 and 23 are firstopenedand hydrocarbon liquid from the supply-pipe 8 is conducted to thevaporsjet 3 and allowedlto drip over into and fill the annular cup 21.

The same islthen ignited, the valve 23 is cut,

off, and the heat of the burning oil isutilized ,to heat the vaporizer 4and the liquid'contained within the annular chamber 27 thereofl When theoil in the cup 21 has been con--- sumed, the valve 23 is again openedand then 1 the hydrocarbon is discharged into the lower end of themixing-chamber 24 of the vaporizer 4 and ignited at the upper endthereof out-- sidethemantle5. Thesameisnowconsumed at the burner 37 intheform of vapor-mixed with air, the air being drawn into the inside ofthe tube or mixing-chamber 24 by thevapor discharged from the vapor-jet3. The'mantle is raised to incandescence by this combustion of thehydrocarbon-vapor and air, and the heat of the vaporizer 4 is continuedfor the ob viouspurposeof vaporizing the hydrocarbon liquid in. theannular chamber 27. It will thus be seen that the initial heating of thehydrocarbon liquid is performed by the lamp itself.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a modified form of vapor-jet tobe, used as a substitute for the vapor-jet 3 when gasolene or any of theother light hydrocarbon liquids are employed. This vapor-jet 3 isprovided with an internally-screw-threaded extension 43, into which thelower end of the pipe 12 screws,and with a needle-valve 44. The valve 44is located directly beneath the dischargeorifice of the vapor-jet andcontrols the flow of hydrocarbon thereto. employed, the valve 23 is notused.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have shown a modified construction in whicha single generator 2 is employed in lieu of the double one illustratedin Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this form of my invention the verticalpipe 2 and the horizontal pipe 14: of the generator are rigidly securedto one another, and the pipe 14 is incapable of removal. A singlesupply-pipe 8 instead of two is employed in this form of my invention.

In the modified form of my inventionillus: trated in Figs. 6 and '7 thevapor-jet 3, vaporizer I, and mantle 5 are all of the same form andconstruction as the corresponding parts in the preferred form of theinvention. generator 2 however, differs slightly from the generator 2,heretofore described. The

same consists of the verticalpipes 45 and 46, connected together attheir upper ends by an annular pipe 47, which constitutes in reality thegenerator proper and completely surrounds the vaporizer 4, adjacent tothe mantle 5. The pipes 45 and 46 extend along one side of the vaporizer4, the former being connected to a supply-pipe 8 for hydrocarbon liquidand the latter having connected to it the vapor-jet 8. This form of myinvention is intended for inside lighting, where the parts of the sameand particularly the generator will not be subjected to intense cold.For this reason it is not important that the upper part of the generatorbe located above the mantle 5, as in the preferred form of my invention.The same is therefore extended around the vaporizer 4, as shown. Asingle burner is employed, and an ordinary tubular globe or chimney 10may be utilized, the same being supported upon a flange 48 at the outerend of a series of arms 49 on the upper end of the support 1.

While my invention has been shown and described as a hydrocarbon-lamp,it will be noted that the light is produced by the heat generated fromthe combustion of the hydro carbon -vapor which raises the mantle 5 toincandescence. The heat generated in this manner may of course beutilized for any other purpose than that of raising the mantle toincandescence. My invention is not limited, therefore, to itsapplication for use as a lamp, but may be used in any other connectionwhere an intense heat is desired.

When said valve is The When theterm lamp is used in the followingclaims, it is intended that the same shall comprehend any formqot'apparatus in which the combustion of hydrocarbon-vapor is desired forthe generationofheat.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hydrocarbon-lamp,the combination with a burner, of a generatorcomprising a pipe made up of a horizontal member and a vertical member,both within the heat zone of said burner and communicating with a sourceof supply for liquid hydrocarbon, a vapor-jet having a cup thereon, anda vaporizer located between said vapor-jet and said burner andcomprising aninner and an outer tube secured together to form an annularchamber which communicates with said pipe and said vapor-jet, as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In a hydrocarbon-lamp, the combination with a burner, of a generatorcomprising a vertical member and a horizontal. member, the latter memberbeing removable without disturbing the relation of the other parts,located above said burner and withinthe heat zone thereof andcommunicating with a source of supply for liquid hydrocarbon, avapor-jet having an annular cup thereon, and a vaporizer located abovesaid vapor-jet and comprising an inner and an outer tube securedtogether to form an annular chamber which communicates with saidvertical member and said vapor-jet, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hydrocarbon-lamp, the combination with a burner, of a generatorcomprising a fixed vertical member and a horizontal mem= ber removablewithout disturbing the relation of the other parts located above saidburner and within the heat zone thereof, a hydrocarbon supply pipecommunicating with said horizontal member, a vaporjet, a valvecontrolling the flow of hydrocarbon to said vapor-jet, an annular cupsecured to and surrounding said vapor-jet and located below thedischarge-orifice therein, and a vaporizer located between said vaporjet and said burner and comprising an inner and an outer tube securedtogether to form an annular chamber which communicates with saidvertical member and said vapor-jet.

4, In a hydrocarbon-lamp, the combination with a burner, of a generatorcomprising a fixed vertical member having an enlarged,internally-threaded, outwardly-directed upper end and a horizontalmember removable without disturbing the relation of the other partsscrewing within the upper end of said vertical member and located abovesaid burner and within the heat zone thereof, a hydrocarbon-supply pipeconnected with said horizontal member, a vapor-jet, a valve controllingthe flow of hydrocarbon to said vapor-jet, an annular cup secured to andsurrounding said vapor-jet and located below the discharge orificetherein, and a Vaporizer located be- I my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit= tween said vapor-jet and said burner and com nesses.

prising an inner and an outer tube secured together to form an annularchamber which JOSEPH BRANCH =5 communicates with said vertical memberand Vitnesses:

said vapor-jet. WILLIAM D. TAYLOR,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set OASDIE E. NORVELL.

